MAJOR-PHYSICS COURSE
Semester III
MAJOR-III: PHYS3012: Waves and Optics (Credits: Theory - 04, Practical - 01)
F.M. = 75 (Theory - 40, Practical – 20, Internal Assessment – 15)
Course Objective: The objective of this course is to provide an in-depth understanding of the nature of waves in general, sound wave as an example of mechanical wave and light as an electromagnetic wave. It is also intended to provide a comprehensive idea of some phenomena like interference, diffraction and polarisation and their physical explanation in terms of the wave theory of light.
60 Hours
Superposition of Collinear Harmonic Oscillations [internal-assessment-2025] [Solution of IA-2025]
Superposition of two Perpendicular Harmonic Oscillations [home works]
Coupled Oscillations [home works due on 14-april-2025]
One Dimensional Waves
Unit I Transverse oscillations (in a plane) of a slightly extensible, uniform string of mass per unit length ρ under a constant tension (T ) with free ends:
Unit II Oscillations of a string of fixed length l under a constant tension (T) with both ends rigidly clamped:
Sound Waves in Gases
Elastic Waves in Bulk Solids
Three Dimensional Waves
Superposition of Harmonic Waves
Interference
Unit 1 Interference by division of a Wavefront:
Unit 2 Interference by division of a Amplitude:
Unit 3 Michelson interferometer, Formation of the fringes, (No theory required), Applications:
Unit 4 Fabry-Perot interferometer
Diffraction
Polarisation of Light
Course Outcome: The outcome of the paper includes the knowledge of vibrations, propagation of waves, vibrations of air column, and harmonics of the strings. The paper has another outcome of offering knowledge of wave properties of light & corresponding phenomena.
Reference Books
The Physics of Vibrations and Waves, H. J. Pain, 2013, John Wiley and Sons.
The Physics of Waves and Oscillations, N K Bajaj, 1984, Tata McGraw-Hill.
Waves and Oscillations, N. Subramanyam and Brij Lal, 2010, Vikas Publishing House
Fundamentals of Optics, F.A. Jenkins and H.E. White, 2017, McGraw-Hill Edn.
Principles of Optics, Max Born and Emil Wolf, 1999, Pergamon Press